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newCDnews NEWSLETTERWorld and International CDs

POSTED 14 JUNE 2001

NEW AND NOTABLE

"Sao Vicente"
Cesaria Evora
...available here.
With her haunting style, Cesaria Evora put the moving and
melancholy musical genre called morna on the map. She's back with
her latest, "Sao Vicente," named for her island homeland.
Read more
...available here.

"Blimundo"
Bau
...available here.
If you're a fan of Cesaria Evora, try out this disc of more music
from her homeland of Cape Verde. "Blimundo" features traditional
music for violin and guitar--rendered with an intimate
touch--performed by Bau, who heads up Evora's instrumental group.
Read more
...available here.

"Bridges: The Best of Ravi Shankar"
Ravi Shankar
...available here.
Ravi Shankar is one of the prevailing musical geniuses of the
current age. Culled from the records he made in the late '80s, the
tracks on "Bridges" represent some of his most adventurous work.
Read more
...available here.

"Entre Tangos y Mariachis"
Rocio Durcal
...available here.
Spanish-bred actor and singer Rocio Durcal is one of the most
beloved and best-known figures in all of Latin entertainment. On
"Entre Tangos Y Mariachi," the silvery-voiced siren emotes the
classic hits of well-known Argentinean composers in the torch-song
hybrid tradition of bolero rancheras.
Read more
...available here.

"Fit?"
Old Blind Dogs
...available here.
On "Fit?," Old Blind Dogs continue the tradition of high-energy
playing and passionate singing that have made them one of the most
popular contemporary Scottish folk groups.
Read more
...available here.

"Nocturne"
Charlie Haden
...available here.
Charlie Haden has a long-standing interest in Cuban music.
"Nocturne" expands on that affinity and on the bassist's
relationship with Cuban piano virtuoso Gonzalo Rubalcaba, who
introduced Haden to the tradition of the Cuban ballad, or bolero.

"Mi Son"
Rick Trevino & Los Super Seven
...available here.
A member of Los Super Seven, Rick Trevino turns his focus to
Mexican folk music on "Mi Son," proving just how
underappreciated Trevino is as a ballad singer.
Read more
...available here.

"This Sentence Is True"
Sheila Chandra
...available here.
On her long-awaited follow-up to 1996's "ABoneCroneDrone," Sheila
Chandra continues along the unique path that the Anglo-Indian singer
has forged throughout the last two decades. The single sonic agenda
for "This Sentence Is True" is diversity.
Read more
...available here.

"Samba Soul 70!"
Chaves
...available here.
Six Degrees has come through yet again with this latest excursion
from its Travel series: a tribute to Brazil's own unique fusion of
elements from soul, R&B, funk, and classic samba. With songs
drawn from the late '60s through the '70s, this compilation covers
the vibrant range of the classic samba sound.
Read more
...available here.

EDITOR'S FAVORITES

"Volume 3: Further In Time"
Afro Celt Sound System
...available here.
Now a band of 20-some-odd players, the Afro Celts push forward with
unbounded energy and focus. On "Volume 3: Further in Time," they use
organically driven beats to celebrate a thoroughly joyous fusion of
West African and Irish traditional music enhanced with dissonant
Eastern influence, psychedelic trip-hop groove, and a monster flood
of sonic waves.
Read more
...available here.

"Cachaito"
Cachaito Lopez
...available here.
Instead of trying to compress the history of Cuban dance music,
Buena Vista Social Club bassist Orlando Cachaito Lopez elongates it
into a shape-shifting amoeba that can swallow and absorb almost any
influence on "Cachaito." He's accumulated so much energy from those
sessions, it flashes all over this gorgeous, mixed-up masterpiece.
Read more
...available here.

"Merry Sisters of Fate"
Lunasa
...available here.
Unlike most contemporary Irish bands, Lunasa has no singer,
preferring instead to focus on purely instrumental music. The sound
they create is undeniably modern, but they play these old jigs and
reels with a combination of grace and conviction that will have even
the most hidebound purist itching to get up and dance.
Read more
...available here.

"Nankuru Naisa"
Hirayasu
...available here.
There have been numerous CDs of "East meets West" fusion recorded
in the last few years, but the musicianship and mutual understanding
of Takashi Hirayasu and Bob Brozman makes "Nankuru Naisa"--with its
mix of Okinawan folk and Hawaiian steel guitar, ukulele, and
charango--one of the best.
Read more
...available here.

NEW WORLD & INTERNATIONAL CDs POSTED 17 MAY 2001

Jose Angel Hevia Velasco, who performs under the name of Hevia, uses a
unique electronic MIDI bagpipe, an instrument he invented, to play
music that blends the melodies of the Asturian region of his native
Spain with synthesized washes of sound and drum beats.

Listening to "Full Circle" is a reminder of Ravi Shankar's many
compositional innovations. While this is a classical recording, the
master introduces elements from outside the Hindustani tradition.
Throughout, the honeyed tone and gentle spirit that pervade all of
Shankar's recordings, classical or experimental, shine through
brilliantly.

The assured way with which the band delivers its sweet harmonies on
the opening track proves Cherish the Ladies can sing as well as they
can play their fiddles, flutes, and accordions. It's a departure
from the Ladies' previous dance-tune-based recordings, but the
quality of the singing is so good that you don't miss the jigs and
reels.

When Cristina Branco sings, she makes the pleasures of heartbreak and
the aching beauty of desperation seem like something to long for. Her
yearning vocals here are complemented by the melancholic work of
guitarists Alexandre Silva and Custodio Castelo, who add unbearable
tension to songs already dripping with overwrought emotion.

Cut during last Thanksgiving, this high-energy live recording offers
up a feast of its own, Cajun style. The set includes plenty of
excellent originals, with a smattering of rousing remakes (including
Fats Domino's "Walkin' to New Orleans").

Belly dancer/singer Natacha Atlas is back with her unmistakable and
unique artistry. On "Ayeshteni," she applies her sinuous worldbeat
sound to such songs as "I Put a Spell on You" and "Ne Me Quitte
Pas."

DJ Ravin takes the wheel behind "Buddha Bar III," the namesake
compilation from Paris's answer to Studio 54. Ravin foregos the
Dinner/Party division that Claude Challe opted for on previous
installments of the series and instead casts themes of Dream versus
Joy on this two-CD set.

EDITOR'S FAVORITES

If the Beatles' "Norwegian Wood" is one of the classic examples of
raga rock, fusing the ancient Indian modal pattern of raga with
Western rock & roll, then Susheela Raman's entire output on her
remarkable debut "Salt Rain" can well be called raga blues.

Bonga is probably Angola's best-known singer-songwriter, partially
because he's based in Paris, allowing his albums to be distributed
internationally, and partially because his story--well-loved musician
forced into exile by a repressive regime because of his political
lyrics--has all the elements of a Hollywood romance.

Cuban-born, San Francisco Bay-area-based pianist/composer Omar Sosa
is an aural alchemist of the first order. On this CD--his seventh as
a leader--Sosa creates an intricate and dynamic pan-African musical
palette.

ROUGH GUIDE CDS

Dance to a Different Drummer
"The Rough Guide to Bhangra"
Various Artists
Our price: $11.97
...more here.

There is dance music and then there is bhangra, the infectious
percussive dance from India that comes in a myriad of guises, from
gentle and folksy to loud and jazzy. The "Rough Guide to Bhangra"
features this unmistakable music at its very best. Like all of the
Rough Guide compilation CDs, it's a great place to explore your love
for world music.

HOT FORTHCOMING RELEASES

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Amazon.com is proud to offer songs from these records as downloads.
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George Michael + Astrud Gilberto, "Desafinado"
...more here.

Editor, Jason Verlinde
"Brasilidade"
BossaCucaNova
...order here.
Dance-floor beats combine with classic samba and bossa nova tunes on
the innovative "Brasilidade." Loaded with infectious rhythms and fresh
arrangements, the disc is a peek into the future of Brazilian music.

"Sebai Bai"
Mahotella Queens
...order here.
South African vocal legends the Mahotella Queens have returned from
semi-retirement and they're seemingly better than ever. Energetic
grooves, great harmonies, and that trademark Mahotella soul all shine
on "Sebai Bai."

"Music from a Painted Cave"
Robert Mirabal & The Rare Tribal Mob
...order here.
As seen on PBS, Robert Mirabal's "Music from a Painted Cave" isn't a
project focused on following the old traditions of Native American
music. Instead, Mirabal fuses rock & roll energy with ancient themes
to create something truly original.

"Noites Do Norte"
Caetano Veloso
...order here.
Every new studio album by Brazil "tropicalia" god Caetano Veloso is
reason to celebrate. On "Noites do Norte," Veloso writes lyrics
exploring themes of national identity and ongoing racial crises while
composing thoroughly entrancing backing music.

"Live In Concert [LIVE]"
Willie & Lobo
...order here.
Violinist Willie Royal and guitarist Wolfgang "Lobo" Fink continue to
blur the lines between flamenco, Latin, and New Age music. But with
"Live: In Concert," we get a better glimpse at their personalities
too, with soulful playing and the occasional between-song banter.

EDITOR'S FAVORITES

"Bosavi: Rainforest Music From Papua New Guinea [BOX SET]"
Various Artists
...order here.
"Bosavi," Folkways' enthralling set of rainforest music from Papua New
Guinea, features three CDs of work chants, folk tunes, and ritual
songs from the diverse residents of this region. Each disc is a
treasure-trove of great, highly original music making.

"A New Hot One"
Krakauer,David
...order here.
Quite simply, David Krakauer's "A New Hot One" is one of the greatest
modern klezmer CDs to be released. Furious free-jazz energy and
awesome clarinet playing make this disc a spine-tingling experience.

"Thai Elephant Orchestra"
Dave Soldier
...order here.
What happens when six Thai elephants are given oversized musical
instruments and allowed to play whatever they want? By the sounds of
"Thai Elephant Orchestra," they produce sheer magic and, yes, a few
musical notes too.

OUR NEW CELTIC STORE

From fiery fiddles to meditative ballads, you'll find all the discs
you're looking for in our new Celtic Music Store. Whether your taste
in Celtic leans toward Altan, Enya, the Pogues, or Sharon Shannon, we
have music you'll love.
Amazon.com's Celtic Music Store
...order here.

FEED YOUR MUSICAL APPETITE

The newest titles, the hottest bands, our favorite discoveries--let
our expert editors e-mail you the best of the music world with
Delivers. Choose your favorite genres to begin receiving more e-mail
recommendations.
Go to sign-up page
...order here.

Also, check out the New & Future Releases page to view titles by
release date, catch the latest digital downloads, investigate the
coolest new reissues, and more.
...order here.

USED & COLLECTIBLE MUSIC

Amazon.com Music now features used and collectible CDs on detail pages
for new items. You'll find a box on the detail page for any CD offered
by a Marketplace seller. With each listing, we offer the name and a
rating for each seller to help you make informed purchasing decisions,
and all these items are Amazon.com Payments enabled, so you can safely
and securely purchase them with a credit card. Our used inventory has
grown dramatically, so visit Amazon.com Music and explore.
...order here.